5 Common Music Myths Debunked

YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO READ STAFF MUSIC TO PLAY MUSIC

Being able to read staff music can be a very helpful skill for a music student. However, there are many alternative options to learning music including learning by ear, reading guitar tabs, chord charts, among other methods. For students looking to approach lessons classically, specifically piano or violin, reading sheet music is a required skill. For many other instruments such as guitar, drums, bass, and vocals there are plenty of other options.

I’M TOO OLD TO LEARN

The old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is easily discredited at our music school. The Musicians Woodshed has taught students as old as 72 years old and we teach numerous adult students on a weekly basis. Some adult students are looking to further master their skills as musicians with an instructor’s help, some are simply looking to learn something new while their child is taking lessons. We’ve even had parents of our younger students learn alongside their child so they can better help them with practice habits. A recent survey found that one of the most common regrets we experience when we’re older is not learning instrument! No day like today, to fix that!

YOU NEED TO LEARN ACOUSTIC FIRST

What a lot of people misunderstand- electric guitar and acoustic guitar are the exact same instrument, the primary difference is simply how the instrument creates the sound. An acoustic guitar uses the (aptly named) sound hole in the middle of the instrument in order to be heard, while an electric guitar uses magnet pickups that transfer the sound through a cable to an electric amplifier. Fun fact: electric guitar strings are typically a smaller size than acoustic strings, making them easier to push down against the fretboard. In addition to string size, the neck width of electric guitars is typically more narrow, allowing students to reach all of the frets with ease.

The beginner’s lesson plan for learning either acoustic or electric guitar are virtually identical. Acoustic guitars do offer a simpler approach to the instrument, you only really need the instrument to start playing. In order to accomplish the desired sound for an electric guitar, it is necessary for a student to have a cable and a guitar amplifier.

I DON’T HAVE A MUSICAL BONE IN MY BODY

You may not have a musical bone in your body but you do have a musical muscle- your heart! Everyone has a heartbeat, which literally means you have rhythm living inside of you. Learning music only really takes time and desire. If you give yourself the time to adequately practice your instrument, you’ll make progress! We’ll leave you with a common African proverb “If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk you can dance!”

I DON’T HAVE TIME TO PRACTICE

Much like exercise, you can’t get it done in a few hours and never have to do it again. The recommended time to efficiently practice an instrument is about 30 minutes a day, to see a substantial progress. I argue that even picking up your instrument for 5 minutes a day can help you get better at your instrument. Remember practice is about progress not perfection!